You can apply for your Singapore Certificate of Clearance (COC) online, but the Singapore police requires quite a bit of information for this application, which means that completing the application takes some time. So don't start too late with this.
In fact, applying for the certificate consists of two steps:
Step 1: Submit application to Singapore police and wait for confirmation
Step 2: Get fingerprinted and send the documents (by e-mail) to Singapore
Step 1 = collect documents
Start by collecting a number of documents, as you will need these documents with your application. The reason to collect these documents in advance is because the Singapore police website is updated every day. Due to the time difference with Singapore, there is a good chance that this update will take place when you are submitting your application. By collecting all documents in advance, you can upload everything in 1x during the application, which speeds up the application.
What should you collect?
• SINGPASS login details (or FIN login details)
• Document stating why you need a Singapore COC application (e.g. request from employer or due to security screening)
• Scan of your passport with your passport photo, names, date of birth, etc
• Scan of your ID (front and back)
• Scan or digital passport photo of yourself
• Valid credit/debit card or i-banking account details for online payments
• Fingerprint cards (you can make a scan and e-mail it to the Singapore police). If you do not have a Singpass you have to send the hard copy fingerprint cards to the Singapore police.
Step 2 = apply at the Singapore police website
- Go to the Singapore police website https://eservices1.police.gov.sg/phub/eservices/homepage
- Choose Police Records and Warrants
- Choose Certificate of Clearance = apply/pay for Certificate of Clearance
- Select Log in als individual user or Login via FIN
- You will now be taken to a page where you can log in by scanning the QR code with the Singpass app. If you don't have the Singpass app, you can download it.
- Or login with your FIN-details.
- Fill in your FIN NO, Passport NO, nationality
- Fill out your personal information and upload a photo.
- Next, go to the following tab: Reason for Application. Here, you need to indicate the reason why you are applying for a Singapore COC.
For the question Date of Departure, you might automatically think of the date you left Singapore. However, for this application, the system does not accept a date in the past. Simply enter today's date or tomorrow's date — this is allowed and not a problem, as there's no other option.
- The next tab is the page where you need to upload various documents — this refers to the list of documents you saw at the top of this article.
- Once you have uploaded all the documents, you proceed to the final page — this is the confirmation and payment page.
- You will now receive an email at the address you provided, confirming your application and including your application number. You will also see your personal COC application reference number displayed on the page itself.
Step 3 = have your fingerprints taken
1) Make an appointment to have your fingerprints taken*
2) Provide the personal data that is requested after making your appointment. This information is necessary to prepare the fingerprinting card and identity statement.
3) During your appointment, your fingerprints will be taken and all documents will be prepared for submission.
* You have applied at the Singapore police for your Certificate of Clearance. Now the Singapore police only needs your fingerprints. When you are not in Singapore, you must provide the fingerprints on hard copy fingerprint cards, which means that your fingerprints are taken with ink on the Singapore COC fingerprint card, this card will be scanned on high quality by the fingerprint technician. The scanned documents can be send to the Singapore police: SPF_COC_Fingerprints@spf.gov.sg together with your name, FIN-number and your COC-application number.
It then takes about three weeks for you to receive your certificate from the Singapore Police. The Singapore police will send you an email with a link where you can download your results.
